The Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica (PCJ) has installed an energy efficient air conditioning (AC) system on the Maternity Unit at the Spanish Town Hospital at a cost of J$8.4 million.

The project was undertaken by the PCJ under its mandate to reduce the government’s energy expenditure by deploying energy efficient technology at public sector facilities. The work was carried out by Appliance Traders Limited (ATL) who won the contract through competitive bidding.

ATL supplied and installed a 20 ton air conditioning system in the Maternity Unit’s Operating Theatre and a 12 ton system at the Labour Ward; replacing the near obsolete units which previously served these areas.

The new, state-of-the-art system is expected to reduce the Hospital’s energy consumption by 77,440 kWh per annum which should result in savings of approximately J$1.6 million each year on energy bills.  This should bring welcomed relief to operators of the facility where air conditioning accounts for 43% of the energy used.

At the handing over ceremony, which was held at the hospital today, (June 25) Minister of Science, Technology, Energy & Mining, Phillip Paulwell said, “The Energy Ministry is on a mission to reduce the astronomical public sector energy bill and one aspect of our strategy is to use the technologies at our disposal to manage consumption.”

“The government is committed to infusing energy efficient technologies into the operations of public sector institutions like the Spanish Town Hospital to reduce energy expenditure without compromising on the service we deliver to our citizens,” he added.

The PCJ’s Group General Manager, Winston Watson reiterated his organisation’s commitment to Jamaica’s long term energy security.

“Through oil and gas exploration and the development of wind and hydro energy projects, the PCJ is working to find more affordable energy supplies for the country in the medium to long term; but in the time being these smaller scale energy efficiency projects can bring some immediate relief by reducing energy consumption,” he explained.

In expressing thanks to the Ministry of Energy and the PCJ, Dr. Andrei Cooke, Board Chairman for the South East Regional Health Authority, (SERHA) said, “The management and staff at the Spanish Town Hospital are very thankful to the Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining and the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica for contributing to the development of our facilities and improving conditions for our staff and patients.”

The overhaul of the Maternity Unit’s air conditioning system is the latest intervention the PCJ has successfully undertaken at the Spanish Town Hospital.  The Corporation installed a $3.8 million solar water heating system at the hospital in 2009 which reduced energy usage by 267,900 kilowatt hours per year which was 18% of the Hospital’s total energy consumption at the time.  Then in 2013 the PCJ retrofitted the internal lighting system on the Maternity Unit in 2013 at a cost of $1.2 million. That intervention cut electricity consumption by 36,000 kilowatt per year, which at today’s rates translates into approximately $900,000 in savings annually.